Throughout history, Black scientists have made profound and pioneering contributions to their fields, yet their names are often not widely known. Here are three such scientists—one from the past, one from the present, and one for the future—who have all been pioneers in their respective fields, from medicine to environmental science and engineering.
A Pioneer from the Past: Dr. Alan Powell Goff
Born in 1920, Dr. Alan Powell Goff was a physician specializing in pathology (the study of the causes and effects of disease). Inspired by his parents, who were also physicians, Goff earned degrees in medicine and a diploma in bacteriology.
His most revolutionary work was on vaccines during the 1950s, a time when measles was considered the greatest killer of children in history. Goff’s research contributed significantly to ending the measles epidemic. His method involved taking a sample of the virus, weakening it by reproducing it many times, and creating a living, weakened version that could stimulate the body's long-lasting immunity. He also made important contributions to the development of the polio virus vaccine. Tragically, Dr. Goff died young in a sailing accident at the age of 46. Given the crucial role vaccines play in public health today, his pioneering work is an essential part of medical history.
A Pioneer in the Present: Dr. Asmaret Asafal Berhay
Dr. Asmaret Asafal Berhay grew up in Eritrea during its war of independence, which inspired her commitment to understanding the environment. She was one of only a thousand students admitted to university in her country, where she studied soil science and was fascinated by soil ecosystems.
Dr. Berhay's research focused on the devastating environmental effects of land mines. Her work examined how landmine explosions disrupt the structure of the soil and leak toxic chemicals. She also determined that removing just a quarter of the land mines from affected areas would make the land productive enough to feed 1.6 million people every year, highlighting the profound link between environmental recovery and human welfare.
A Pioneer for the Future: Kaisha Payne
Kaisha Payne grew up in London and showed an early aptitude for science and mathematics, developing a passion for chemical engineering—the study of the fundamental building blocks of everything. She was the first member of her immediate family to attend university.
In her early career, Payne worked as a process engineer at AstraZeneca in Cambridge, the site where one of the COVID-19 vaccines was developed. Her work focused on ensuring that drugs developed in the lab did not degrade by the time they were administered to patients.
Recognizing that she was often the only Black person in the room during her studies and career, Payne became passionate about increasing diversity in STEM. She created the Black British Professionals in STEM, a network that connects Black students in the UK with professional peers and provides advice and mentoring from Black British STEM professionals. Her work addresses the critical belief that "when you don't see yourself represented in an industry, it's extremely difficult to believe there's a place for you in it."
These three individuals—Dr. Goff, Dr. Berhay, and Kaisha Payne—did not just dream of a better future, but used their determination and scientific rigor to make it a reality.
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